October 13, 1930 – June 14, 2022
“At each step, the Lord put the right people in my path at the right time.” – Fr. Michael Kettron
Fr. Kettron was born in Anderson, Ind., on October 13, 1930, at St. John Hickey Memorial Hospital to Lydia Catherine (Doerflein) and Richard Leo Kettron, and was raised with sisters Mary Angela Kraus and Carolyn Wiehe. Fr. Kettron now joins them in the kingdom of our Lord. He met our Savior on Tuesday, June 14, 2022. He is survived by many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
From grade school through high school, Fr. Kettron attended St. Mary’s parochial Catholic school in Anderson and then went on to Our Lady of the Lakes Preparatory Seminary in Syracuse, Ind. (Lake Wawasee). He continued his education for priesthood at St. Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology to receive degrees in Philosophy and Theology. He was ordained on May 25, 1957.
Fr. Kettron’s life journey and 60 years of priestly service touched countless lives and carried him around the world, taking the self-described “hick-boy Hoosier” from Anderson to Great Britain, France, Spain, Rome, the Holy Land, Egypt, South Africa, Vietnam and multiple religious shrines.
Fr. Kettron’s first assignment was as an associate at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception under the pastorate of Bishop Carberry for three years during which time he was also assigned to the Chancery office. At age 30, he was sent to Rome to earn a doctorate in Canon Law. He attended the Pontifical North American College where he lived in residence at the Casa Santa Maria on the Via Del’Umilta, a property which the Holy Father had given to the bishops of America. After three years of study and with his doctorate in the Chancery Office in Lafayette as pro-Chancellor and later as Chancellor. He was assigned to serve as pastor of St. Joseph parish in Delphi, Ind., in 1967 where he took on a five-year task of remodeling the church. In 1972 he became pastor of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel parish in Carmel and later at Sacred Heart of Jesus in Cicero in 1987. Fr. Kettron lived his last few years at the Hermitage in Beech Grove, Ind. He was cared for by the Benedictine sisters and their staff.
In fulfilling his pastoral mission, Fr. Kettron found great spiritual satisfaction and long-lasting friendships during his priesthood participating in Catholic movements – Cursillo, Christ Renews His Parish, Parish Encounter and Priest Encounter. Fr. Kettron will be missed by so many people; his family, friends and parishioners. His life has been recounted by our children, parents, grandparents and great-grandparents and our religion. We loved him and he loved us!
Visitation was held on Thursday, June 16, 2022, at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church, 410 Pearl St., Cicero, with Vigil Service immediately following. A second time of visitation will be from 9 to 11 a.m. on Friday, June 17, 2022, also at the church, with Mass of Christian Burial to immediately follow.
Arrangements are entrusted to Hartley Funeral Home Cicero Chapel, 209 W. Jackson St., Cicero, where you may leave condolences at hartleyfuneralhomes.com.